Shrines of Montenegro: Ostrog — Dajbabe — Church Resurrection of Christ — Cetinje monastery

Montenegro is a country where the Orthodox faith helped to preserve itself as a nationality, during the Ottoman invasion of the Balkans. Faith in God, the Holy Trinity, gave tremendous moral strength and sustained the spirit of Montenegrins during the 500-year struggle for independence. Today, this faith has helped the young independent Montenegrin state to gain recognition throughout the world.

An excursion to the spiritual places of Montenegro is one of my favorites, because it gives an opportunity to see and touch the most important shrines of the Montenegrin and Serbian Orthodox people, the great shrines of the Orthodox world. The history of Orthodoxy in Montenegro is inseparably linked with the history of the country and tells us about the unimaginable bravery of a small people in a tiny mountainous area, which did not want to submit to the forces of the Ottoman Empire.

During the tour we will visit the famous monastery of Montenegro - Ostrog. Trip to it is quite fascinating, as it passes through the coast of the country and further from the main road Podgorica - Niksic along the winding mountain serpentine. Due to its location in a steep cliff at an altitude of about 900 meters above sea level and unique architectural appearance, the monastery attracts travelers from all over the world. The relics of the revered Saint Basil from Ostrog are preserved, which has done much to strengthen the Orthodox faith in Montenegro and develop the monastery itself. It is rightfully considered the main symbol of Orthodoxy in the Balkans, and the relics of Basil from Ostrog have a miraculous power and heal the bodies and souls of those who come to the monastery for help. The road to the temple is a real test of strength and spirit.

Monastery Ostrog consists of three levels. The lower monastery was built in 1820, and its center is the Church of the Holy Trinity. The upper monastery, built into the niche of the cliff, includes the Church of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin and the Cross-Exaltation Church. It is in the Upper Monastery that the cell of St. Basil is located, next to which, after his death, the vine grew, and the ark with its miraculous relics is kept. Between the Lower and Upper Monasteries there is the Church of the New Martyr Stanko, in which baptisms and weddings are held.

Lifehack: from the Lower monastery to the Upper there are numerous stairs: it is believed that a true believer must overcome this path on foot. Although the upper part of the complex can be reached by car.

Next, we visit the Dajbabe Monastery and learn a striking legend about the construction of the monastery. Daibabe reminds the Kiev - Pechersk Lavra underground passages and caves. Let's touch the relics of Simeon Dajbabski.

In the capital city of Podgorica, we will visit the only cathedral church of Montenegro - the Holy Resurrection of Christ. It became a symbol of the unification of the entire Montenegrin people, from simple toilers to the metropolitan, as everyone invested their share in its construction.

In the final of the excursion we are waiting for the Montenegrin throne - the city of Cetinje and the Cetinsky Monastery, in which the Hand of John the Baptist is stored, the relics of Peter Cetinsky, a particle of the life-giving cross brought from Jerusalem. Also in the city, the museum houses one of the oldest icons in the world - the icon of the Theotokos of Philermos. It is believed that it was written by the apostle Luke during the life of the Virgin.

We will visit not only the strongest in power and strength the Orthodox shrines, but also enjoy the stunning views of Montenegro during the whole route. At your request, we will dine in the national restaurant with traditional dishes of the "old Montenegro".

Included in cost:
Car, fuel, parking, guide, driver.

The price does not include:
Entrance tickets to museums, lunch.

What to take along:
Clothing covering the knees and shoulders (for men and women). Comfortable shoes. Container for holy water.

Starting point of the excursion:
Your hotel or place of residence
IMPORTANT: At specified prices, excursions are available from all resorts of the Budva Riviera (Budva, Becici, Rafailovici, St. Stefan, Petrovac). If you have a rest at the resorts of the Bar Riviera or the Bay of Kotor, the cost of each excursion is recalculated individually, taking into account the route and the place of departure. Correspondingly, the cost can be higher or lower.